Automobile speedometer



Nov. 1, 1932: c. M. PAxsoNv AUTOMOBILE SPE Filed April 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l am Arronwxsv .l NOV. l, 1932. C, M PAXSON 1,885,134'

AUTOMOBILE SPEEDOMETER Filed April 1v', 1931 2sheetssheet 2 Zi 1d' zz 17 if ZZ Z 3 Z5 17 -Y Cazzejaawfofzfmm M @l ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES CLAUDE M. PAXSON, F TIPTDN, OKLAHOMA AUTOMOBILE srnnnoivinrnn Application filed April 17,

This invention relates to motor vehicle speedometers and more particularly to illumination therefor and has for the primary object, the provision of an illuminating I means so arranged that the speed indicating `'numbers or characters may be effectively illuminated so that they may be more easily read by the occupants of the vehicle from either seat of said vehicle and also whereby l0 the season and trip indicating numbers may be more easily read. Y Another object of this invention is the provision of stenciling the numbers in the speed indicating drum and arrangingwithin l `the drum an illuminating means whereby the light rays of said means will effectively actuate the numbers to render them more easily read without undue glare t0 the eyes of the observer. Y

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel mounting for the illuminating means, whereby the latter may be easily accessible for repairs and which supports said illuminating means for illuminating all of the members of the speedometer.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating a speedometer constructed in accordance with 'my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a top plan view illustrating the illuminating means mounted on the casing of the speedometer.

` Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional View illustrating the :slots in the speed indicating drum for permitting the light rays to extend into the casing of the speedometer for the purpose ofilluminating the season and trip numbers and taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

1931. serial No. `530,931.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 'indicates'a'conventional type of speedometer including a casing 2, a drive means, and an arbor 4 mounted within the casing and carryingl the total and trip numbers 5 and @readable through the usual slots in theV dial face 7.. The'dial face is; protected by the usual transparent panel 8. The arbor 4 also` carries the speed indicating drum 9' drivenffrom the operating means 3 in the usual manner. The drum 9 has the speed indicating numbers l() stenciledthereinl and said drum is held in operative position with the driving means 11 by brackets: 12 detachablv secured to the arbor as shown at 13. Characters 10 are visible through al sight opening 14 in the face 7 The foregoing description relates to a-well known -con struction of speedometer except for the stenciling of the numbersand to which my invention is applied. f

The top wallof the casing 1 is providedv with a light receiving opening 15 andlocated adfjacentthe opening is a stop plate, 16 having one edge bevelled as shown in Figure 4Y to be engaged by the bevelled edge of a light supportingplate 17 that overlies the opening 15 and ,carries an `electric lamp socket 18 projecting intothecasing. The plate 1 7 is provided with an offset portion 19 carrying an expandible socket -20 adapted to receive and grip-the head 21 ofa stub 22 carried by the top -wall of the casing whereby the plate is detachably secured in lplace, upon thercaslng. r

An` electric vlamp 23y is mounted in the socket 18 and extends into the drum ,9 and in rear of thek stenciled -numbers as clearly shown-'in Figures 2 and 4. The base of the lamp projects Aoutwardly of the socket: for 99 engagement with a contact arm 24 carried lby an insulating bracket 25 mounted on lthe plate 17 and isprovided with a binding post 26 V'to receive the. terminal Vof an electrical conductor. The plate 17 carries a binding 95 pest 27`to which the other electrical conductor of an electric circuit may be attached thereby illuminating the electric lamp 23.

A semi-transparent lining 28 is arranged within the drum 9 and overlies the stenciled 100 numbers for the purpose of profusing the rays of light from the lamp 23 so that undue glare will be prevented from the eyes of the observer. With the lamp 23 illuminated, the light rays shining through the semitransparent lining 28 and the stenciled numbers will effectively illuminate the latter that they may be easily read.

The drum 9 below the stenciled numbers is provided with a plurality of slots 30 permitting the light rays from the lamp 23 to Venter the interior of the casing for the purpose of providing an indirect lighting effect to the total and trip numbers 5 and 6 so that they may be easily read.

As shown in Figure 5, the drum 9 is oper ated through the driving mechanism 11 and equipped with the usual tension spring 31 for the purpose of returning the drum to zero aarlring when the speed of the vehicle is brought to a standstill. rllhe dial 7 is preferably coated White, niclreled or tin plated on the inside to give it better reflecting qualities. lVhen employing the device upon a motor vehicle, it is preferable to have the illuminating means employed on the dash extinguished so that the characters or numbers of the speedometer will be more easily read through the openings in the dial.

The outer face of the dial is preferably coated black.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what claim is A speedometer comprising a casing having an opening, a speed indicating drum having stencilled characters mounted in the casing, a rim for said casing and provided with a cut-away portion adjacent the opening and having one wall thereof bevelled, aplate provided with a bevelled end engaging the bevelled wall of said cut-away portion and having the opposite end offset outwardly fro-m the casing, al separable fastener between the offset end of the plate and said rim, a socket carried by said plate and extending into the casing by way of the opening and having the opposite end extending beyond the plate, an electric lamp carried by the socket and extending into the drum, an electrical terminal strip carried by the plate and insulated therefrom and engaging a terminal of the lamp, and an electrical terminal secured to said plate.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

CLAUDE M. PAXSON. 

